Granular feed supplement

ABSTRACT

A ruminant feed composition, having a granulated core having at least one active substance and at least one layer of a coating material surrounding the core, the coating material comprising one or more linear, saturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acids in an amount of at least 60 wt % of the total weight of the coating material.

This nonprovisional application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/394,057, filed Oct. 18, 2010.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure is generally directed to granular feed supplements forruminant animals. In particular, this disclosure provides a granularfeed supplement for a ruminant in which a physiologically activesubstance is stable in the rumen of a ruminant animal and is digestedand absorbed in the abomasum and subsequent digestive tract. Alsodisclosed are a method of making and a method of using the granular feedsupplement.

Ruminant animals are mammals of the suborder Ruminantia that have astomach divided into four morphologically distinct compartments: therumen, the reticulum, the omasum, and the abomasum. The rumen and thereticulum are derived from the terminal portion of the esophagus, andonly the omasum and the abomasum are considered to be a genuine stomach.Bacteria present in the rumen enable ruminants to digest cellulosicmaterials such as grass. Conventional digestion occurs in the abomasum,sometimes called the “true stomach.” Well-known ruminants includecattle, sheep, and goats.

The rumen, which is essentially a continuous fermenter, supports avariety of micro-organisms under neutral conditions which attack anddigest much of the ingested feedstuffs consumed by a ruminant as part oftheir normal life cycle. Ingested protein material is broken down in therumen to soluble peptides and amino acids that are used as nutrients bythe microorganisms. A stream of ingesta, rich in microbial cells, passesout of the rumen into the omasum. The function of the omasum is toseparate liquids and solids. Much of the liquid reenters the rumen whilethe remainder of the material enters the abomasum. Digestion andabsorption then proceed in the abomasum in a manner similar to thatfound in monogastrics. Enzymes secreted into the lumen of the abomasumdigest much of the material, including the microbial cells. The digestedmicrobial cells provide protein and amino acids to the ruminant.

The microbial action of the rumen has the great advantage of being ableto convert many feed components which have no direct nutritive value forthe host into products which can be assimilated and utilized by thehost. For example, urea may be converted to microbial protein whichsubsequently may be digested and utilized by the host animal. Cellulosemay be converted to a mixture of volatile fatty acids which can serve asa source of energy to the host.

Unfortunately, this microbial action also presents certaindisadvantages. For instance, soluble proteins of high nutritive valuemay be broken down and digested in the rumen and in part resynthesizedinto microbial protein of lower nutritive value. Amino acids are alsochemically changed by the rumen microorganisms, which convert aminoacids to carbon dioxide, volatile fatty acids, and ammonia.

All proteins present in animals are constituted by combinations of morethan 20 different amino acids. Among these, ten “essential” amino acidsare not adequately synthesized in the animal body, and the animals musttake them in. When essential amino acids are lacking in the ruminantdiet the ruminant's health, milk production, etc., are all negativelyaffected.

It is common practice in ruminant production to supply biologicallyactive substances in the daily diet of the animals in order to improvetheir conditions of health and their productive performance. Activesubstances of interest include amino acids, vitamins, enzymes, nutrientssuch as proteins and carbohydrates, probiotic micro-organisms, prebioticfoods, mineral salts, choline, etc. Some of these substances are alreadynormally present in foods used for feeding animals. Sometimes the amountof essential active substances present in the diet may be insufficientor inadequate to cope with states of deficiency or situations of highproductivity. Therefore, it is desirable to carefully formulate orsupplement the daily diet of ruminant animals in order to address theseconcerns.

However, when physiologically active substances such as amino acids andproteins are orally fed, a substantial part of the substance (e.g.,proteins, amino acids, etc.) are decomposed by microorganisms in therumen, making it difficult or impossible for the animal to effectivelyutilize all of the administered proteins and amino acids contained infeed, etc. Thus, essential amino acids are destroyed and renderedunavailable for animal production. Animal production is limited by thesupply of individual essential amino acids that escape, or bypass, therumen intact and reach the lower gastrointestinal tract where they canbe absorbed and become available for animal production.

Accordingly, it is important to pass the biologically active substancesthrough the rumen without decomposition by microorganisms to allow thebiologically active substances to be effectively digested and absorbedin the abomasum and subsequent digestive tract. Consequently, a greatdeal of effort has been expended towards providing a bioactive substancein a form which will pass through the rumen essentially unaltered, yetundergo disintegration and absorption in the abomasum.

There are numerous methodologies that are designed to increase theamount of a nutrient that passes through the rumen without beingdegraded by the rumen microflora, thereby delivering a larger portion ofthat nutrient to the lower gastrointestinal tract, including: heat andchemical treatment, encapsulation and coating, use of amino acidanalogs, and polymeric compounds of amino acids.

For instance, it has been proposed to coat ruminant animal feedadditives containing biologically active substances with protectivesubstances, such as fatty acids, hardened animal oils, and hardenedvegetable oils. However, particles coated with these fats and oils arestable not only in the rumen, but also in the abomasum and subsequentdigestive tract, making the biologically active substances difficult tobe released in the abomasum and subsequent digestive tract.

Another method proposed utilizes the difference in pH between the rumenand the abomasum by coating with a polymer that is insoluble in theenvironment of the rumen but is soluble in the strongly acidic abomasum.Such polymers include polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyamides, and cellulosesthat have been chemically modified. This solution has the drawback of ahigh production cost, combined with the fact that using syntheticpolymers introduces non-physiological substances into the animals' diet.Such polymer coating products thus require FDA approval.

A few patents disclose coating biologically active substances withmaterial that allegedly survives the rumen but degrades in the abomasum.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,541,204 discloses hydrogenated vegetableand animal fats and waxes such as rice bran wax as coatings that survivethe rumen but are disrupted in the intestinal tract.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,959,493 describes utilizing aliphatic fatty acids havingat least 14 carbon atoms each. The fatty acids are applied as a coatingto an individual nutrient. The fatty acids are said to be resistant torumen degradation. The active agents then are delivered to the abomasumand/or intestine where the fatty acids are reduced in the post-ruminalenvironment.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,317 describes a process for supplying fatty acids toruminants in the form of their calcium salts. However, the sole use offatty acid salts as feed additives creates a distinctly disagreeableodor from the oxidation of the organic volatiles in the feed causing areduction in feed intake and milk yield.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,245 discloses a rumen-surviving granule comprising acore of bioactive material, a coating substance stable at neutral pH (asfound in the rumen) but dissolved or disintegrated at pH=3 (as found inthe abomasum), and at least one other coating selected from the groupconsisting of fatty acids having at least 14 carbon atoms and waxes,animal fat, and vegetable fat having a melting point of 40° C. orhigher.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,808,412 describes a rumen stable composition containingan active agent molecularly dissolved with a basic polymer. The activeagent is delivered post-ruminally because the polymer is resistant to apH of greater than about 5, but is soluble or swellable at a pH of lessthan about 3.5. In this type of dispersion, some of the active agent atand near the surface of the composition will be destroyed by the actionof ruminal microbes because cracks or channels can occur on the surface,reducing the effectiveness of the protection.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,967 discloses a two-layer rumen-surviving coatingfor water-soluble bioactive substances. The resulting particulate isstable at pH at least as high as 5.5, and releases bioactive substanceat pH of 3.5 or less. The coating medium comprises an inner firstcoating layer consisting of material sensitive to pH variations and anouter second coating layer consisting of a hydrophobic composition thatmust include inorganic filler if the bioactive core has not undergone asurface treatment (application of hydrophobic binder). This hydrophobicouter coating layer is provided with a texture that permits diffusion orpenetration of the external liquid medium. The outer coating preferablycontains a mixture of hydrophobic substances.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,097 discloses a coating composition that is stableat pH less than or equal to about 3.5. The coating comprises afilm-forming, water-insoluble binder that contains a substance thatcontrols hydrophilicity, and optionally a substance that is sensitive topH. Both waxes (hydrophobic) and propylene glycol (water-soluble) aresuitable for controlling the hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance.Controlling the hydrophilicity of the particle is said to limit releaseof the bioactive material in neutral or slightly acidic media, i.e., inthe rumen. In very acidic media, i.e., the abomasum, pH-sensitivefillers are activated by the media, which diffuses slowly at a rateestablished by the hydrophilicity of the coating. The resultingdissolution or swelling of the pH-sensitive filler degrades the coatingand releases the bioactive material.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,128 describes a beadlet nutrient coating thatincludes fats and calcium based products. Coated ruminant nutrients havethe disadvantage of cracking or abrading either in handling or in beingmasticated by the animal.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,695 provides a method wherein a particular feedcomposition that delivers an improved balance of essential amino acidspost-ruminally is fed to a cow.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,227,166 discloses a feed supplement for ruminantsconsisting of a coated biologically active substance, such as an aminoacid, drug, or vitamin. The coating composition comprises lecithin, atleast one inorganic substance which is stable in neutrality and solubleunder acidic conditions, and at least one substance selected from thegroup consisting of straight-chain or branched-chain saturated orunsaturated monocarboxylic acids having 14 to 22 carbon atoms, saltsthereof, hardened vegetable oils, hardened animal oils, and waxes.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,571 discloses a method of encapsulating choline toproduce a rumen bypass supplement for ruminants. This type ofencapsulation produces spherical particles having a core of cholinesurrounded by a shell of fat. Encapsulation is a relatively expensivemanufacturing process. Furthermore, the high degree of saturation of thefat needed for solidification tends to reduce the digestibility of thecholine.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,185 describes a scheme for treating proteinsubstances with zein/formaldehyde to render the ingredients protectedfrom rumen degradation. However, formaldehyde results in the destructionand reduced bioavailability of most essential amino acids. Broderick, G.A. et al., “Control of rate and extent of protein degradation,”Physiological Aspects of Digestion and Metabolism in Ruminants, Tsuda etal., eds., p. 541, 1991; Academic Press, London. Furthermore, the levelof formaldehyde sometimes used is too high, creating health concernsassociated with its carcinogenicity and has not been approved by the FDAfor animal feed applications.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,807,594 describes a method of improving weight gain andfeed efficiency in a ruminant by encapsulating a choline chloridecomposition in a rumen-protected carrier. Suitable encapsulating orcoating materials for use in this invention include hydrogenated oils,mono- and di-glycerides, waxes, and seed fats.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,566 describes the addition of fat to a feed rationand then adding rumen protected encapsulated choline chloride in anamount proportional to the added fat. However, such coatings andencapsulations of choline chloride are subject to abrasion, cracking,and other abuses during transport and handling, thereby rendering thecoatings permeable to rumen fluids and microorganisms that destroy thecholine.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,229,031 describes a method for manufacturing feedsupplements by converting lipids that are byproducts of the food andmeat processing industries to their calcium salt form.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,242,013 describes a ruminally-protected high oleicmaterial produced by roasting oilseeds at high temperatures to protectthe fatty acids fed to ruminants. However, the roasting proceduresrequire costly energy consumption.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0127259 indicates thatcoated ruminant nutrients are disadvantageous due to cracking orabrading either in handling or in being masticated by the animal.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 60-168351 proposes a method ofdispersing a biologically active substance in a protective substancewhich comprises granulating a biologically active substance containingat least 20% by weight of calcium carbonate and at least 10% by weightof a substance selected from the group consisting of monocarboxylicacid, a hardened oil and fat.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 61-195653 proposes a processfor dispersing a biologically active substance in coating materialscomposed of at least 10% by weight of a substance selected from thegroup consisting of a monocarboxylic acid, a hardened oil and fat, andat least 20% by weight to not more than 50% by weight of an insolublesalt of an acid which is more weakly acidic than hydrochloric acid.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 63-317053 describes a methodthat comprises coating a biologically active substance with a coatingmaterial containing the protective substance composed of amonocarboxylic acid, hardened oil, lecithin, and a glycerin fatty acidester.

WO 96/08168 describes a ruminant feedstuff to improve milk yields indairy cattle. The feedstuff is composed of a rumen-protected cholinecompound having a protective coating containing at least one fatty acidor fatty acid soap.

Watanabe et al. (K. Watanabe et al., “Effects of fat coated rumen bypasslysine and methionine on performance of dairy cows fed a diet deficientin lysine and methionine,” Animal Science Journal, 77:495-502, 2006)report that the present technology to produce rumen protected aminoacids has been limited to methionine. Watanabe et al. further report onthe significant challenges of developing a rumen protected lysine, dueto its physical and chemical properties. Watanabe et al. also indicatethat from an industrial point of view, it was only worthwhileestablishing rumen protected technology with hydrogenated fat and/orminerals, which are already registered as feed ingredients. Watanabe etal. disclose the bioavailability of fat coated rumen protected L-lysinehydrochloride in lactating dairy cows and the effect of rumen protectedL-lysine hydrochloride and rumen protected methionine on lactationperformance of high-yielding dairy cows fed a silage-based practicaldiet. Watanabe et al. report that the intestinal availability of theirfat coated rumen protected lysine was calculated to be 66.2%.

In view of the foregoing problems, the need still exists to provide afeed supplement that protects a biologically active substance stably inthe rumen of a ruminant animal and yet allows the effective digestionand absorption in the abomasum and subsequent digestive tract of theactive substance.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure addresses these and other needs by providing animproved composition containing a biologically active substance that caneffectively be digested, absorbed, and utilized by ruminant animalswhile being a safe and economical product.

Disclosed is a ruminant feed composition, comprising a granulated corematerial comprising at least one biologically active substance and acoating material surrounding the core material. The coating material maycomprise saturated, linear aliphatic monocarboxylic acids having from 2to 34 carbon atoms, in an amount of at least 60 wt % of the total weightof the coating material.

Also disclosed is a method of providing an amino acid to a ruminant,comprising providing the amino acid in a granular core coated with acoating material and including the coated granule in a feed that is fedto the ruminant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

This disclosure relates to feed additives comprising a core that iscoated with a coating material, which are stable in the rumen of aruminant animal and are digested and absorbed in the abomasum andsubsequent digestive tract.

The core comprises at least one granulated physiologically activesubstance or biologically active substance (hereinafter “activesubstance”). The core may be a single granule, or may further include amatrix comprising one or more excipients such as binding substances,inert ingredients, and flow-control substances that together aid theformation of pellets of granulated active substances. The core maycomprise one or more active substances, generally in a solid form, andmust be firm enough so as to remain intact during the following phasesof processing, especially during coating operations.

The term “active substance” herein refers to, for example, amino acids,vitamins, enzymes, nutrients such as proteins and carbohydrates,probiotic micro-organisms, prebiotic foods, mineral salts, mixes ofacids such as for instance lactic acid, fumaric acid, citric acid andmalic acid, choline, and choline derivatives. These active substancesmay be used individually, or mixed together in varying weight ratios.

Specifically, the active substances may include, for example: aminoacids such as lysine, methionine, tryptophan, arginine, histidine,isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, valine, and threonine; amino acidderivatives such as N-acylamino acid and N-hydroxymethylmethioninecalcium salt, lysine sulfate, and lysine hydrochloride; hydroxyhomologous compounds of amino acids such as2-hydroxy-4-methylmercaptobutyric acid and salts thereat powders ofnatural nutrients such as grain powders, and feathers; proteins such ascasein, corn proteins, and potato proteins; carbohydrates such asstarch, cane sugar, and glucose; vitamins and substances having asimilar function such as vitamin A, vitamin A acetate, vitamin Apalmitate, vitamins B, thiamine, thiamine hydrochloride, riboflavin,nicotinic acid, nicotinic acid amide, calcium pantothenate, cholinepantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, choline chloride,cyanocobalamine, biotin, folic acid, p-aminobenzoic acid, vitamin D₂,vitamin D₃, and vitamin E; antibiotics such as tetracyclic antibiotics,amino glycoside antibiotics, macrolide-type antibiotics, polyethertypeantibiotics; insecticides such as negfon; vermicides such as piperazine;and hormones such as estrogen, stibestrol, hexestrol, tyroprotein, andgoitrogen.

Several active substances have been identified that aid in improvingmilk and meat production of ruminant animals, including the amino acidslysine and methionine. When used in dietary supplements, different saltforms of such amino acids may be used to supply the desired amino acid.For example, lysine may be in the form of lysine hydrochloride or lysinesulfate. In addition, the physical characteristics of the amino acidsalt may range from very fine, almost powdery, to large granules.Therefore, the chemical and physical properties of the final product,and thus its ability to bypass the rumen and be effectively metabolizedby the ruminant animal, are directly related to the amino acid saltselected.

A preferred form of lysine is a granulated L-lysine sulfate having thefollowing attributes. The particle size is preferably in the range ofabout 0.3 mm to about 3.0 mm, and more preferably is in the range ofabout 0.3 mm to about 1.0 mm, or in the range of about 1.0 mm to about2.0 mm, or in the range of about 2.0 mm to about 3.0 mm, or in the rangeof about 0.3 mm to about 1.6 mm, or in the range of about 0.8 mm toabout 1.2 mm.

The granulated L-lysine sulfate may be screened before being coated toeliminate fine particles. For example, at least 99%, or at least 99.2%,or at least 99.4%, or at least 99.6%, or at least 99.8%, or 100% of thegranulated L-lysine sulfate particles have a particle size greater than300 μm, or 400 μm, or 500 μm, or 600 μm, or 700 μm, or 800 μm.

The lysine assay may be 50% minimum. The moisture content may be 5%maximum, and the bulk density may be 0.70±0.07 grams/cc. Such a lysineproduct is commercially available as BIOLYS® manufactured by EvonikCorporation.

The coating materials for coating a core containing the active substancemay comprise linear or branched aliphatic monocarboxylic acids havingfrom 2 to 34 carbon atoms, such as, for example, from 2 to 24 carbonatoms, or from 10 to 34 carbon atoms, or from 14 to 22 carbon atoms, orfrom 16 to 20 carbon atoms. The aliphatic monocarboxylic acids may besaturated or unsaturated. Unsaturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acids mayhave 1, 2, 3, 4, or more double bonds, where each double bond isindependently in the cis or trans conformation. As used herein,“aliphatic monocarboxylic acid” includes aliphatic monocarboxylic acidsthat are in free form, salts of aliphatic monocarboxylic acids, andesterified aliphatic monocarboxylic acids, such as a mono-, di-, ortriglycerides, and phospholipids.

Aliphatic monocarboxylic acids may be obtained from naturally occurringsources, or may be synthesized. Examples of sources of aliphaticmonocarboxylic acids include vegetable oil, animal fat, and waxes.Examples of suitable vegetable oils include palm oil, soybean oil,rapeseed oil, cottonseed oil, and castor oil. The vegetable oil may bepartially or fully hydrogenated. Examples of suitable animal fatsinclude beef tallow and lard. The animal fat may be partially or fullyhydrogenated. Examples of waxes include carnauba wax, beeswax, paraffinwax, and other natural and synthetic waxes.

The coating material may comprise one or more aliphatic monocarboxylicacids originating from one or more sources, such as the sourcesdescribed above. Vegetable oils, among other things, contain a mixtureof various fatty acids. For example, soybean oil contains about 51%linoleic acid (C18:2), 23% oleic acid (C18:1), 10% palmitic acid (C16),7% α-linolenic acid, and 4% stearic acid (C18). Hydrogenating oils andfats increases the degree of saturation of the fatty acids, which inturn increases an oil's viscosity and melting point. Another way ofincreasing the melting point of a coating material comprising aliphaticmonocarboxylic acids is to increase the amount of saturated aliphaticmonocarboxylic acids present in the coating material. For example,soybean oil may be supplemented with additional palmitic acid (C16)and/or stearic acid (C18) to increase the amount of saturated aliphaticmonocarboxylic acids present in the coating material. Other supplementalcompounds that may be added to the coating material include oleic acid,lecithin, palm oil, and combinations thereof.

The coating material may comprise from about 60 to 100 wt % linear,saturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acids per total weight of the coatingmaterial, or from about 70, 75, 80, 85, or 90 wt % to about 100, 99, 98,97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, or 91 wt % linear, saturated aliphaticmonocarboxylic acids per total weight of the coating material.

The linear, saturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acids present in thecoating material may consist of or consist essentially of a singlelinear, saturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acid, such as, for example,stearic acid (c18). Or, the linear, saturated aliphatic monocarboxylicacids present in the coating material may comprise a mixture of two ormore linear, saturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acids. For example, thecoating material may comprise a mixture of stearic acid and palmiticacid in a ratio of from 20:1 to 3:1 parts of stearic acid to palmiticacid by weight. The mixture of stearic acid and palmitic acid mayaccount for 90 wt % or more of the total weight of linear, saturatedaliphatic monocarboxylic acids present in coating material, such asabout 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, or 100 wt % of the totalweight of linear, saturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acids present incoating material, although amounts below 90 wt % may also be used.

The coating material should have a melting temperature in the range offrom about 40° C. to about 80° C., such as in the range of about 50° C.to about 60° C., or in the range of about 60° C. to about 70° C., or inthe range of about 70° C. to about 80° C., or in the range of about 55°C. to about 65° C., or in the range of about 60° C. to about 75° C., toensure that the coating on the final product has a hard surface, therebypreventing agglomeration of the final product, and also to increase thestability of the product in the rumen.

Fully hydrogenated and some partially hydrogenated vegetable oilscontain a high percentage of linear, saturated aliphatic monocarboxylicacids. In some embodiments, fully hydrogenated soybean oil is used inthe coating material. Such a hydrogenated soybean oil is commerciallyavailable as Bunge Oil Soybean Flakes manufactured by Bunge, Ltd. Insome embodiments, hydrogenated rapeseed oil may be used. Such ahydrogenated rapeseed oil is commercially available as AGRIPURE AP-660manufactured by Cargil (Hamburg, Germany).

As an alternative to using, for example, hydrogenated vegetable oils orhardened animal fats as raw materials for the coating material, one ormore free fatty acids may be used as the raw materials. For example,palmitic acid, commercially available as Palmitic Acid 95% FGK from ACMEHardestry (Malaysia) may be mixed with stearic acid, commerciallyavailable as Stearic Acid 90% FGK from ACME Hardestry (Malaysia) toobtain a coating material having a high percentage of linear, saturatedaliphatic monocarboxylic acids. Other free saturated fatty acids arealso commercially available, as well as free unsaturated fatty acids,such as, for example, oleic acid commercially available as Oleic Acid80% FGK from ACME Hardestry (Malaysia). Of course, there are numerouscommercially available sources of aliphatic monocarboxylic acids,including many different grades and purities, that are suitable for thecoating material.

The core containing the active substance should be coated with asufficient amount of coating material to completely coat the core and toobtain a rumen bypass rate of at least 50%, such as at least 55%, or atleast 60%, or at least 65%, or at least 70%, or at least 75%, or atleast 80%, or at least 85%, or at least 88%, or at least 90%, or atleast 93%, or at least 96%. The “rumen bypass rate” is the percentage ofthe active substance contained in the core before entering the rumenthat remains in the core upon exiting the rumen.

The weight percent ratio of the core to the coating material may be in arange of from about 50:50 to about 70:30, such as 50:50, or 55:45, or60:40, or 65:35, or 70:30. In other embodiments, the weight percentratio of the core to the coating material is in a range from about 70:30to about 90:10, such as 75:25, or 80:20, or 85:15, or 90:10.

The d₅₀ of the final product may be in the range from about 300 μm toabout 5,000 μm. In some embodiments, the d₅₀ of the final product may bein the range from about 600 μm to about 3,000 μm, or from about 800 μmto about 1,900 μm, or from about 1,000 μm to about 1,500 μm, from about1,200 μm to about 1,800 μm.

In addition to exhibiting a rumen bypass rate of at least 50%, thecoated core material should also exhibit a sufficient intestinaldigestibility rate. The “intestinal digestibility rate” is thepercentage of the active substance passed from the rumen that isdigested and absorbed in the abomasum and subsequent digestive tract.The intestinal digestibility rate may be at least 70%, or at least 75%,or at least 80%, or at least 85%, such as in the range of 70% to about100%, or such as in the range of about 80% to about 90%, or in the rangeof about 90% to about 100%, or in the range of about 85% to about 96%,or in the range of about 89% to about 95%, or in the range of about 93%to about 99%, or in the range of about 75% to about 95%.

The core may be coated by spray coating, pan coating, fluid bed coating,continuous pour coating, or any other method known to those of skill inthe art. This may be done in a batch or in a continuous process. Thecore may be coated with a single layer of the coating material appliedin a single coating application, or the core may be coated with multiplelayers of coating material, such as, for example, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,9, or more layers. Each layer surrounding the core may independentlycomprise the same coating material or different coating materials.

When coating the core, the coating material is formed by mixing togetherthe raw material sources of the aliphatic monocarboxylic acids, and anyother desired additives. The coating material may then be heated toabove its melting point temperature so that the coating material is in aliquid state when it is applied to the core. The coating material may beheated to a temperature in the range of from about 50° C. to about 200°C., such as in the range of about 70° C. to about 110° C., or in therange of about 90° C. to about 120° C., or in the range of about 100° C.to about 160° C., or in the range of about 80° C. to about 105° C., orin the range of about 100° C. to about 150° C. After application of theliquid coating material to the core, the coated core is allowed to coolso that the coating material solidifies forming a solid layersurrounding the core. This process may be repeated one or more times toproduce multiple layers of coating materials surrounding the core.

If consecutive layers of the same coating material are applied to thecore as described above, the individual layers may not bedistinguishable in the final product. However, the multilayering processdescribed above imparts distinctive structural characteristics to thefinal product when compared to a product surrounded by a single layer ofthe same coating material having the same thickness as the coat of themultilayered product. While the liquid coating material is allowed tocool and solidify into a solid layer, defects such as micro-fissures,cracks, and pores may form in the layer. These defects can create pathsfor the ruminal environment to access and start degrading the core.Although any additional layers may also exhibit such defects, thedefects in one layer may be offset by non-defect areas in a coatinglayer above or below and in direct contact with said one layer. Thus, byapplying multiple layers of coating material to the core, where eachlayer is allowed to cool and solidify before forming the next layer, thenumber of defects that run continuously or create a path from the outersurface of the outermost layer to the core decreases.

The number and size of the defects in a layer may vary depending on thecore size, coating materials, the coating process, and the processparameters utilized for making the coated core. As such, the number oflayers and the thickness of each layer necessary to obtain a desiredbypass rate and intestinal digestibility rate may vary depending uponthe variables selected.

The coated core materials may then be used as a feed supplement or feedadditive. Appropriate amounts of the coated granules are added to theruminant feed, for example by mixing. When the feed supplement isingested by the ruminant, the physiologically active substance is stablydelivered past the rumen at a bypass rate as described above, such thata percentage of the active substance is delivered past the rumen fordigestion and take up into the ruminant's system. In the case of lysinesulfate, the feed supplement should be added to the ruminant feed in anamount that would provide between about 5 to 120 grams of lysine sulfateper head of cattle per day.

EXAMPLES Comparative Example

300 grams of granulated lysine sulfate (BIOLYS® Evonik Corporation),having granules with a diameter in a range of 0.3 mm to 1.6 mm, washeated by thermal conduction to 43° C., and then transferred to a lowshear mixer. While agitating the lysine sulfate under low shear, 33% byvolume of a pre-measured amount of hydrogenated soybean oil (T_(m)=49°C.) heated to a temperature of 93° C. was added to the mixer usingcontinuous pour, coating the lysine sulfate. No supplemental compoundswere added. The product, while under agitation, was allowed to cool to43° C. Hydrogenated soybean oil heated to a temperature of 93° C. wasagain added until the product temperature reached 54° C., and theproduct, while under agitation, was allowed to cool to 43° C. The cyclewas repeated once more, completing the addition of hydrogenated soybeanoil. The final product had a 60% core to 40% coating by weight.

Approximately 10 grams of the test product was weighed into 5 cm×10 cmbags (ANKOM #510, average pore size of 50±15 microns). Each bag was heatsealed twice. A total of 5 bags of the test product was prepared foreach cow plus 4 blank bags. Each bag was labeled sequentially using apermanent marker and sample information was recorded on log sheets. Asample of the test product was collected and analyzed for initial drymatter (DM) and nitrogen (N) content.

Immediately before insertion into the rumen, the bags were soaked in 39°C. water for approximately five minutes to wet the test material. Thebags were then inserted into the rumen of three lactating Holstein cowspreviously fitted with rumen cannula. After an incubation period of 16hours, the bags were removed from the rumen and immediately placed inice water until they were washed three times. After washing, the bagswere dried at 45° C. Once dry, each bag and its residue was weighed todetermine the amount of dry matter (DM) escaping ruminal degradationusing the following formula:

${\% \mspace{14mu} {DM}{\mspace{11mu} \;}{escape}} = {\frac{{{mass}\mspace{14mu} {of}\mspace{14mu} {initial}\mspace{14mu} {sample}} - {{mass}\mspace{14mu} {of}{\mspace{11mu} \;}{sample}\mspace{14mu} {residue}}}{{mass}\mspace{14mu} {of}\mspace{14mu} {initial}{\mspace{11mu} \;}{sample}} \times 100}$

The rumen bypass rate (% DM escape) for the test product was 75.17% witha 2.85% standard deviation.

Examples 1-21

300 kilograms of granulated lysine sulfate (BIOLYS®, EvonikCorporation), having granules with a diameter of 0.3 mm to 1.6 mm, wasadded to a fluidized coating chamber and heated to 43° C. by using 53°C. heated air to fluidize the chamber. Once the substrate reachedinitial product temperature, coating material preheated to a temperatureof 120° C. was applied through the fluid air stream to reach a productapplication temperature of 55° C. As per the design of a fluidizedcoater, material moves in and out of the coating stream, building upsuccessive layers. The air inlet temperature was controlled to maintaina product temperature of 55° C. until all of the pre-weighed coatingmixture was applied to achieve a 55% core to 45% coating by weight, Theproduct was then cooled in the fluidized air chamber until ambienttemperature (25° C.) was reached.

Table 1 below summarizes the data obtained for Examples 1-21 that wereproduced using a fluid bed process similar to that described above.These examples illustrate a variety of different combinations of productparameters.

TABLE 1 wt % wt % wt % d₅₀ of Final Lysine Hydrogenated Supplemental %of Lysine Product Example Sulfate Rapeseed Oil Compound(s) Sulfate > Xμm (μm) 1 60% 36% 4% stearic acid  100% > 600 μm 1387 2 60% 36% 4%stearic acid 99.9% > 600 μm 1369 3 60% 36% 4% stearic acid 99.8% > 800μm 1417 4 60% 36% 4% stearic acid 99.9% > 600 μm 1060 5 60% 36% 4% oleicacid  100% > 600 μm 1356 6 60% 38% 2% lecithin  100% > 600 μm 1353 7 60%38% 2% lecithin 99.9% > 600 μm 1346 8 60% 38% 2% oleic acid 99.2% > 800μm 1420 9 60% 38% 2% oleic acid 99.2% > 800 μm 1440 10 60% 36% 2%stearic acid 99.9% > 600 μm 1325 2% lecithin 11 60% 36% 2% oleic acid 100% > 600 μm 1519 2% lecithin 12 60% 36% 2% stearic acid 99.4% > 800μm 1431 2% oleic acid 13 50% 50% n/a 99.5% > 800 μm 1457 14 55% 45% n/a 100% > 600 μm 1347 15 55% 43% 2% lecithin 99.9% > 600 μm 1343 16 55%43% 2% oleic acid 99.6% > 800 μm 1416 17 60% 38% 2% palm oil  100% > 600μm 1384 18 60% 36% 4% palm oil  100% > 600 μm 1400 19 60% 36% 2% palmoil  100% > 600 μm 1292 2% lecithin 20 60% 36% 2% palm oil 99.9% > 600μm 1259 2% stearic acid 21 55% 41% 4% stearic acid 99.9% > 600 μm 1297

Examples 22-31

Examples 22-31 were produced using a fluid bed process substantiallysimilar to that described above. Each of Examples 22-31 was analyzed forrumen bypass rate (% DM escape). Some of the example products werefurther analyzed to determine the intestinal digestibility rate ofnitrogen by an in vivo digestibility test.

Rumen Bypass Protocol

Approximately 20 grams of test product was weighed into 5 cm×10 cm bags(ANKOM #510, average pore size of 50±15 microns). Each bag was heatsealed twice. A total of 20 bags of test product was prepared for eachcow plus 2 blank bags. Each bag was labeled sequentially using apermanent marker and sample information was recorded on log sheets. Asample of the test product was collected and analyzed for initial drymatter (DM), nitrogen (N), and lysine content.

Immediately before insertion into the rumen, the bags were soaked in 39°C. water for approximately five minutes to wet the test material. Thebags were then inserted into the rumen of lactating Holstein cowspreviously fitted with rumen cannula. After an incubation period of 16hours, the bags were removed from the rumen and immediately placed inice water until they were washed three times. After washing, the bagswere dried at 45° C. Once dry, each bag and its residue was weighed todetermine the amount of dry matter (DM) escaping ruminal degradationusing the following formula:

${\% \mspace{14mu} {DM}{\mspace{11mu} \;}{escape}} = {\frac{{{mass}\mspace{14mu} {of}\mspace{14mu} {initial}\mspace{14mu} {sample}} - {{mass}\mspace{14mu} {of}{\mspace{11mu} \;}{sample}\mspace{14mu} {residue}}}{{mass}\mspace{14mu} {of}\mspace{14mu} {initial}{\mspace{11mu} \;}{sample}} \times 100}$

In Vivo Intestinal Digestibility Test Protocol

The intestinal digestibility rate was determined by an in vivodigestibility test. The protocol is based on the recommendationspublished in National Research Council, “Nutrient requirements of dairycattle,” 7th rev. ed., Natl. Acad. Sci., Washington, D.C., (2001),incorporated herein by reference. Approximately 0.8 grams of testproduct was weighed into 5 cm×10 cm bags (ANKOM #510, average pore sizeof 50±15 microns). Each bag was heat sealed twice. The bags were soakedin pepsin/HCl solution (100 mg pepsin per liter of 0.01 N HCl) for 2hours at 39° C. in a shaking water bath. Enough HCl was added todecrease the pH to 2.4. The bags were rinsed with distilled water andkept at −18° C. until introduction into the duodenum. One bag wasinserted into the duodenal cannula each day every 15 minutes following ameal for a 3 hour period (total of 12 bags per cow). The bags werecollected from the feces from 8 to 20 hours after initial insertion.Upon recovery, the bags were rinsed under tap water until the rinsewater was clear. The bags were dried at 55° C. and residue pooled byreplicate and the tested product was analyzed for DM and N content. Theapparent intestinal digestibility of nitrogen was calculated using thefollowing formula:

${\% \mspace{14mu} N\mspace{11mu} {digestibility}} = {\frac{{{mass}\mspace{14mu} {of}\mspace{14mu} {initial}\mspace{14mu} {sample}\mspace{14mu} N} - {{mass}\mspace{14mu} {of}{\mspace{11mu} \;}{sample}\mspace{14mu} {residue}\mspace{14mu} N}}{{mass}\mspace{14mu} {of}\mspace{14mu} {initial}{\mspace{11mu} \;}{sample}\mspace{14mu} N} \times 100}$

The results for Examples 22-31 are summarized in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Wt % Wt % Ruminal wt % Lysine wt % Type Oleic Stearic DMDuodenal N Example Sulfate HVO HVO Acid Acid Escape % Digestability % 2260 36 Soybean 4 0 91.9 n/a 23 60 36 Soybean 4 0 88.2 88.7 24 60 36Soybean 4 0 92.0 96.8 25 55 43 Soybean 2 0 87.5 n/a 26 60 36 Soybean 2 291.2 n/a 27 60 36 Rapeseed 0 4 87.4 74.5 28 55 41 Rapeseed 0 4 97.8 n/a29 55 43 Rapeseed 2 0 92.2 99.0 30 60 36 Rapeseed 4 0 78.5 31 60 36Rapeseed 2 2 88.6 98.9

Examples 32-51

Table 3 below summarize the fatty acid profiles of Examples 32-51, wherecoating materials comprising at least 93% by weight of saturated fattyacids were obtained using various mixtures of different raw materials.

TABLE 3 Raw Materials (wt % of total weight of composition) Fatty AcidProfile of Coating Material Coating Materials (wt % of total weight ofcoating) 95% 90% Liquid Core Other Total AP Palmitic Stearic OleicLysine Palmitic Stearic Saturated Saturated Example 660 Acid Acid AcidSulfate Acid Acid Fatty Acids Fatty Acids 32 0 9 35 1 55 20.9 75.2 2.098.1 33 0 6 38 1 55 15.4 80.6 2.1 98.1 34 0 4 40 1 55 10.4 85.7 2.0 98.135 0 9 33 3 55 21.2 71.5 2.0 94.8 36 0 6 36 3 55 16.3 75.8 1.9 94.1 37 04 38 3 55 11.1 81.0 2.1 94.2 38 37 7 0 1 55 21.7 72.7 3.2 97.7 39 40 4 01 55 16.1 78.3 3.3 97.7 40 42 2 0 1 55 10.3 84.2 3.3 97.8 41 35 7 0 3 5515.3 75.1 3.4 93.8 42 38 4 0 3 55 10.6 79.7 3.4 93.7 43 40 2 0 3 55 21.568.8 3.3 93.5 44 34 7 0 1 58 21.7 72.6 3.3 97.5 45 37 4 0 1 58 15.8 78.53.4 97.7 46 39 2 0 1 58 10.6 83.7 3.4 97.7 47 32 7 0 3 58 21.4 68.8 3.393.5 48 35 4 0 3 58 15.5 74.9 3.4 93.7 49 37 2 0 3 58 10.5 79.6 3.5 93.750 19 5 18 3 55 15.1 76.2 2.6 93.8 51 25 5 12 3 55 15.5 75.2 2.9 93.6

It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and otherfeatures and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirablycombined into many other different systems or applications. Also,variously presented unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives,modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequentlymade by those skilled in the art, and are also intended to beencompassed by the following claims.

1. A ruminant feed composition, comprising: a granulated core comprisingat least one active substance; and at least one layer of a coatingmaterial surrounding the core, the coating material comprising one ormore linear, saturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acids in an amount of atleast 60 wt % of the total weight of the coating material.
 2. Thecomposition of claim 1, wherein the active substance is selected fromthe group consisting of amino acids and their salts.
 3. The compositionof claim 2, wherein the active substance is selected from lysine,methionine, and their salts.
 4. The composition of claim 1, wherein thecoating material comprises vegetable oil that is at least partiallyhydrogenated.
 5. The composition of claim 4, wherein the vegetable oilis selected from the group consisting of palm oil, soybean oil, rapeseedoil, cottonseed oil, and castor oil.
 6. The composition of claim 1,wherein the active substance is L-lysine sulfate.
 7. The composition ofclaim 1, wherein the granulated core material has a granular size ofabout 0.3 mm to about 3.0 mm.
 8. The composition of claim 1, wherein theweight % ratio of core material to coating material is from 50:50 to90:10.
 9. The composition of claim 1, wherein the core is surrounded bytwo or more layers of coating material.
 10. The composition of claim 1,wherein the coating material has a melting temperature in the range offrom about 50° C. to about 80° C.
 11. The composition of claim 1,wherein the core is coated with a sufficient amount of coating materialto obtain a rumen bypass rate of at least 50%.
 12. The composition ofclaim 11, wherein the composition exhibits an intestinal digestibilityrate of at least 70%.
 13. The composition of claim 1, wherein thecoating material comprising one or more linear, saturated aliphaticmonocarboxylic acids in an amount of at least 90 wt % of the totalweight of the coating material.
 14. The composition of claim 4, whereinthe vegetable oil is supplemented with at least one selected from thegroup consisting of stearic acid, oleic acid, lecithin, and palm oil.15. The composition of claim 1, wherein the coating material maycomprises a mixture of stearic acid and palmitic acid in a ratio of from20:1 to 3:1 parts of stearic acid to palmitic acid by weight.
 16. Thecomposition of claim 15, wherein the mixture of stearic acid andpalmitic acid accounts for 90 wt % or more of the total weight oflinear, saturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acids present in coatingmaterial.
 17. A ruminant feed composition, comprising: a granulated corematerial comprising L-lysine sulfate; and at least two layers of acoating material surrounding the core, the coating material comprisingone or more linear, saturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acids in anamount of at least 60 wt % of the total weight of the coating material;wherein: the weight % ratio of core material to coating material is from50:50 to 60:40.
 18. The composition of claim 17, wherein the core iscoated with a sufficient amount of coating material to obtain a rumenbypass rate of at least 50% and the composition exhibits an intestinaldigestibility rate of at least 70%.
 19. A method of supplementing thediet of a ruminant with lysine, the method comprising: providing theruminant with a ruminant feed composition comprising: a granulated corecomprising at least one active substance; and at least one layer of acoating material surrounding the core, the coating material comprisingone or more linear, saturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acids in anamount of at least 60 wt % of the total weight of the coating material.20. The method of claim 19, wherein the coating material comprisessoybean oil.
 21. The method of claim 19, wherein the coating materialcomprises rapeseed oil.
 22. The method of claim 19, wherein the core issurrounded by two or more layers of coating material.
 23. A method ofmaking a ruminant feed composition, the method comprising: obtaining acore comprising L-lysine sulfate; coating the core with a continuouslayer of a liquid coating material comprising one or more linear,saturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acids in an amount of at least 60 wt% of the total weight of the coating material; and allowing the layer ofcoating material to solidify to obtain a coated core.
 24. The method ofclaim 23, further comprising: surrounding the coated core with one ormore additional layers of coating material, wherein each layer ofcoating material is allowed to solidify before adding a next layer ofcoating material.
 25. The method of claim 23, wherein the core is coatedin a batch process or in a continuous process.
 26. The method of claim24, wherein the coating material comprises vegetable oil that is atleast partially hydrogenated.
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein: thevegetable oil is selected from the group consisting of palm oil, soybeanoil, rapeseed oil, cottonseed, and castor oil; and the vegetable oil issupplemented with one or more saturated fatty acid selected from oleicacid and steric acid.